The devastating 2019/20 bushfires in Victoria (Australia) burnt over 1.5 million hectares, killed an estimated 3 billion animals, and destroyed over 400 homes.

Around the time, I quit my job in advertising to focus my efforts on creating meaningful change. On the day I left the office for the final time, Melbourne was covered under a thick blanket of smoke and I knew I’d made the right decision.

I met with a group of friends for dinner and we reflected on our worries about climate change. From this conversation our grassroots community group was born. We were motivated to protect the natural places we love and preserve resources for future generations.

‍

There weren't many avenues for young people in our local area to get involved or influence decision-making. Bayside was traditionally a conservative municipality, and while there were avenues for more established community members, we didn’t feel those were the right spaces for us. We had a lot of energy, but navigating the space for the first time we also didn't have aclear direction forward.

We formed a group of 20 volunteers, meeting regularly to build a shared understanding of the local landscape and opportunities. We named ourselves The Wilderness Society Bayside and completed community organising training to develop the skills needed to mobilise and advocate effectively.

We built relationships with local councillors and connected with other local groups, and identified where our efforts could complement and amplify existing work.

Through this, we developed a grassroots strategy to engage the community and build relationships with key decision-makers.

• Bayside City Council declared a climate emergency in 2019
• We contributed to strengthening the council’s first-ever Climate Emergency Action Plan
• Developed constructive relationships with local councillors and the federal MP
• Organised a 500 person outdoor screening of 2040 with a live Q&A with the film’s director, raising $5,000 to sustain the group's actions.
• Fostered strong partnerships with local groups and worked to inform the community on the local impacts of climate change and how to take collective action.

• Collaboration is key to getting sh*t done.
• Engage widely to avoid duplicating efforts.